--Not trying to be perverse in resurrecting this thread, but I finished a DIY jumper cable project a couple of hours ago, and I'm inordinately impressed by the results.
I've got some very nice old Aerial Model 7 2 no. driver floorstanders. (For some sort of reference, see the most recent _Stereophile_review of the Aerial 5B. http://www.stereophile.com/standloudspeakers/aerial_model_5b_loudspeaker/ -- Indeed! This *is* the most recent 5B review, and it even has an honorary mention of my Model 7s.)
The speakers are very finely constructed, but the 'brassy' plates used as jumpers have never been the best. I finally got around to creating jumper cables. I purchased 8 no. of the seemingly standard Chinese silver-plated wide spades from Ebay (here, for instance, http://cgi.ebay.com/4pc-Spade-Y-Plugs-Jack-Audio-cable-silver-plated-xb11-/320544113538?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4aa1eb0382) I cut 2 no. 2" lengths of two-strand, 12-gauge Romex (which really is about the handiest, good quality cable I've ever had around). I separated the white from the black leads, and trimmed the ends of the casing. Stuck them in the silver spades and screwed them down. The Chinese/Japanese screw-fastening connectors do not always come with the correct screws for fastening (or decent quality screws for durable connection), but you can take a sample connector over to Home Depot (or other hardware purveyor) and find metric bolts that are 4mm, 5mm, or 6mm depending that will fit the holes. In this context, I think that strong screw connection is more durable than solder, but YMMV.
Four pieces of coated, color coded wire. 8 spade connectors. I fastened them all down. Then I replaced the Ariel copperized-alloy strips. The Romex is extremely stiff and difficult to work in close-quarters. It was a fiddly business, and you want to be sure that you do not allow the spade connectors to touch at any point. YES, of course, you can forego the spades altogether and just fasten-down trimmed lengths of bare wire. Maybe I overcomplicated it. I'm still happy.
In any case, the conclusion isan immediately discernable--quite distinctive--enhancement of treble definition and sustain with the new Romex strips. The Romex is cheap as chips, so even if you're a perennial sceptic, I still recommend using it or some other good quality cable to try the jumper cable replacement. Rabid sound sceptics will hear no difference--but then they never do. I'll warrant to others will be chuffed by the nice improvement made at minimum cost.
Edited by catachresis - 6/13/10 at 6:49pm
